7 Best Waffle Makers Consumer Reports 2019 – Top Rated

For the price of a few orders of restaurant waffles, you can make your own at home and customize them any way you like. If you’re considering purchasing a waffle maker our guide is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know during the buying process. From machines that churn out fluffy Belgian waffles for a crowd to flip-style and mini heart-shaped waffle makers there are a wide variety of models and special features to choose from. We surveyed the market, read the reviews, and tested highly rated models available on Amazon; evaluating how evenly and quickly they cooked as well as how easy they were to use, clean, and store. Our guide will help you choose the best waffle maker for you and includes our Top Waffle Maker Picks of 2018, as well as a summary of the features that matter most

What To Look For In A Waffle Maker

Waffle makers range widely in style and feature …not to mention in the type, quality, and a number of waffles they produce! From oversized fluffy Belgian waffles to thin and crispy traditional waffles; we evaluated which features are most important to look for in any waffle maker.

FEATURE

DESCRIPTION

Type of Waffle

Belgian, Traditional, Shapes

Number of Waffles

How many waffles it makes at once

Ease of Cleaning

Nonstick plates, drip trays, and removable plates

Speed

How long it takes to heat up, cook waffles, and reheat for the next batch

Indicator Lights & Sounds

To let you know when it’s ready to use and when your waffles are done

Adjustable & Even Browning

The ability to make waffles of varying, but even crispness

Ease of Storage

Cord hiders, latches, and storage options

Type Of Waffle

One of the first things you need to decide when choosing a waffle maker is what type of waffles you’d like to make. From fluffy Belgian waffles to thin and crispy traditional waffles or cute shapes for kids—there are waffle makers designed to cook up any style of waffles you crave! Belgian waffles are thicker than American waffles, and also have deeper wells for butter, syrup, or whatever else you decide to put on top of your waffle. They’re typically 1-1½” inches thick and are best enjoyed crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They take a bit longer to cook as well but can also be made using a variety of battery types from cookie dough to cornbread. Other people prefer thin and crispy “Eggo-style” waffles that can also be enjoyed in waffle ice cream sandwiches and to shape into waffle cones. If you have picky little palates to please, heart or other shaped waffles might be your preferred type.

Number Of Waffles

Waffle makers typically make anywhere between one and four waffles at a time. It’s important to evaluate how many people you’ll typically be making waffles for to select a model that suits your household and entertaining needs. Waffles freeze exceptionally well so it’s usually a good idea to plan to make extra for easy breakfasts on busy mornings. Be sure to consider how quickly each waffle maker works to see how long it will take to make the batch size you want.

Ease Of Cleaning

Any appliance that’s difficult to clean will make you reluctant to use it often! Nonstick surfaces are a must; significantly reducing the amount of hassle involved with making waffles out of the waffle iron, ensuring that waffles come out unbroken, reducing the amount of oil you need to use, and making it much easier to keep your waffle maker clean. Note that you should always use plastic tongs or chopsticks to remove your waffles to avoid scratching your nonstick surface—scratches cause batter to stick and make cleanup more difficult. Some models feature removable, dishwasher safe plates to speed cleanup although you really only need to wipe your waffle iron clean with a damp cloth after it has cooled from cooking. Another useful feature some models have are spillover channels or plates to keep messy batter overflows at bay. Some waffle makers also come with a specific measuring cup to portion batter and help avoid overflows in the first place.

Speed

Waffle makers vary widely in how quickly they heat up and how quickly they cook waffles. Some models require a significant amount of reheat time between batches while others allow for continuous cooking. Evaluate how many waffles you’ll want to make each time and how much time you’re able to spend making them before you finalize your purchase. In general, if you’re making waffles for a crowd you’ll want to find a waffle maker that churns out multiple waffles at once or one that quickly and continuously cooks thin style waffles.

Indicator Light And Sounds

Seek out a waffle maker with audible or visual indicators that chime or light up when it’s preheated enough to cook waffles, ready to cook another batch, and when your waffles are done. Chances are you’ll be seeing to other cooking tasks while you make waffles. We prefer sounds to lights so you can step away instead of being stuck babysitting your waffles! If you go for a bargain model it may not have all of these features. A good rule of thumb to know when your waffles are done is to monitor steam output. When your waffle maker stops releasing steam it means the batter is nearly cooked through. Once you get used to your model you can also set a separate timer to alert you—but we favor models that do the timing for you.

Adjustable And Even Browning

It goes without saying that everyone prefers his or her own level of crispiness in a perfectly cooked waffle. Seek out a model with easy to read, accurate, and easy to use adjustments to customize the browning of each batch. You also want a waffle maker with no hot spots for unappealing uneven browning or undercooked areas.

Ease Of Storage

Since a waffle maker is a single-purpose cooking item that you probably won’t be using every day; you want to find a model that suits your storage space and needs. Many come with cord winders or built-in cord storage to avoid tangles. Others have locking mechanisms and the ability to easily and securely tuck them away vertically or horizontally. Some flip models take up additional space and need to be stored in their box. No matter which size or style you choose, always measure your shelf space to be sure the model you choose will fit.

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